Neetu Saini

All Publications

• Patient-derived colon epithelial organoids reveal lipid-related metabolic dysfunction in pediatric ulcerative colitis. Nature communications Ojo, B. A., Zhu, Y., Heo, L., Fox, S. R., Qiao, Y., Waddell, A., Moreno-Fernandez, M. E., Gibson, M., Tran, T., Dunn, A. L., Elknawy, E. I., Saini, N., López-Rivera, J. A., Divanovic, S., Dai, Y., de Jesus Perez, V. A., Rosen, M. J. 2025; 16 (1): 11026

  Abstract

  Ulcerative colitis (UC) is associated with epithelial metabolic derangements which exacerbate gut inflammation. Here, we develop colon organoid (colonoid) lines from pediatric patients with endoscopically active UC, inactive UC, and those without intestinal inflammation to interrogate functional metabolic differences in the colon epithelia. We demonstrate that active UC colonoids exhibit hypermetabolic features and cellular stress, specifically during differentiation. Hypermetabolism in active UC colonoids is driven, in part, by increased proton leak, and excess lipid accumulation. Active UC colonoids exhibit heightened activation of the master lipid regulator PPAR-α and its transcriptional pathways. Pharmacological PPAR-α inhibition limits lipid accumulation, induces a metabolic shift towards glucose utilization, suppresses hypermetabolism, and reduces chemokine secretion and cellular stress markers. Collectively, our findings identify lipid-related metabolic dysfunction as a key pathologic feature of the pediatric UC epithelium and highlight the potential of patient-derived colonoids as a preclinical model for evaluating epithelial-targeted therapies addressing this dysfunction.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s41467-025-65988-2

  View details for PubMedID 41372139

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC12695892

• PMC12695892 Patient-derived colon epithelial organoids reveal lipid-related metabolic dysfunction in pediatric ulcerative colitis Ojo, B. A. 2025; 16 (11026)

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s41467-025-65988-2

• Notch1 Modulation of Cellular Calcium Regulates Mitochondrial Metabolism and Anti-Apoptotic Activity in T-Regulatory Cells. Frontiers in immunology Saini, N., Lakshminarayanan, S., Kundu, P., Sarin, A. 2022; 13: 832159

  Abstract

  As the major hub of metabolic activity and an organelle sequestering pro-apoptogenic intermediates, mitochondria lie at the crossroads of cellular decisions of death and survival. Intracellular calcium is a key regulator of these outcomes with rapid, uncontrolled uptake into mitochondria, activating pro-apoptotic cascades that trigger cell death. Here, we show that calcium uptake and mitochondrial metabolism in murine T-regulatory cells (Tregs) is tuned by Notch1 activity. Based on analysis of Tregs and the HEK cell line, we present evidence that modulation of cellular calcium dynamics underpins Notch1 regulation of mitochondrial homeostasis and consequently anti-apoptotic activity. Targeted siRNA-mediated ablations reveal dependency on molecules controlling calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the chaperone, glucose-regulated protein 75 (Grp75), the associated protein Voltage Dependent Anion Channel (VDAC)1 and the Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter (MCU), which together facilitate ER calcium transfer and uptake into the mitochondria. Endogenous Notch1 is detected in immune-complexes with Grp75 and VDAC1. Deficits in mitochondrial oxidative and survival in Notch1 deficient Tregs, were corrected by the expression of recombinant Notch1 intracellular domain, and in part by recombinant Grp75. Thus, the modulation of calcium dynamics and consequently mitochondrial metabolism underlies Treg survival in conditions of nutrient stress. This work positions a key role for Notch1 activity in these outcomes.

  View details for DOI 10.3389/fimmu.2022.832159

  View details for PubMedID 35222416

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC8866856

• Sirtuin1 meditated modification of Notch1 intracellular domain regulates nucleolar localization and activation of distinct signaling cascades Front Cell Dev Biol . Saini , N., Bheeshmachar, G., Sarin, A. 2022; 10: 988816

  View details for DOI 10.3389/fcell.2022.988816

• Methionine uptake via the SLC43A2 transporter is essential for regulatory T-cell survival Life Science Alliance Saini, N., Naaz, A., Metur, S. P., Gahlot, P., Walvekar, A., Dutta, A., Davathamizhan, U., Sarin, A., Laxman, S. 2022; 5: 12

  View details for DOI 10.26508/lsa.202201663

• Spatial regulation and generation of diversity in signaling pathways. Journal of biosciences Saini, N., Sarin, A. 2021; 46

  Abstract

  Signaling pathways orchestrate diverse cellular outcomes in the same tissue, spatially and temporally. These interactions, which are played out in micro-environments within cells and involve a relatively small number of core pathways, are the key to the development and function of multi-cellular organisms. How these outcomes are regulated has prompted interest in intracellular mechanisms that build diversity in signaling outcomes. This review specifically addresses spatial positioning of molecules as a means of enabling interactions and novel outcomes of signaling cascades. Using the Notch and Ras pathways as exemplars, we describe mechanisms that contribute to diverse signaling outcomes.

  View details for PubMedID 33785678

• Nucleolar localization of the Notch4 intracellular domain underpins its regulation of the cellular response to genotoxic stressors Cell Death Discov. Saini , N., Sarin, A. 2020; 6: 7

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s41420-020-0242-y